Gulf County Representative Cecil G. Costin speaking at the dedication of the Port St. Joe Constitution Museum

Image Number

Year

Date Note

Series Title

General Note

Florida.bBoard of Parks and Historic Memorials

Note seated at the far left is Governor Leroy Collins.

On January 11, 1839 in old St. Joseph, state delegates signed the first state constitution. A memorial commemorating that first (of five) Florida Constitutional Conventions was erected in 1922 and bears the names of the convention delegates engraved in marble. Then on 7 March 1950, the City of Port St. Joe donated the memorial to the board of Parks and Historic Memorials (Florida Park Service). In 1954, the city donated additional adjoining property. In 1955, the Florida Park Service opened a museum facility on the 13.5 acre site, which became known as the Constitution Convention Museum State Park.

Florida Memory is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Florida’s LSTA program is administered by the Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services.